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The Honolulu Advertiser
Updated at 1:38 p.m., Wednesday, May 6, 2009

Suspect in Kauai murder found fit to stand trial

Associated Press

LIHUE — A judge has followed the lead of a panel of three psychiatrists and ruled a murder suspect is fit to proceed to trial.

Payton Rapozo is accused of fatally shooting Antonio Torres in Kapaa in October.

Defense attorney Nelson Goo says two members of the panel believe the 22-year-old Rapozo didn't have the ability to understand his behavior at the time of the shooting. But the panel agreed he is mentally competent to stand trial.

Goo says he may pursue a temporary insanity defense.

The 43-year-old Torres had dated Rapozo's mother, and Torres had allegedly threatened her and other family members shortly before the shooting.

Torres is being held at the Halawa Correctional Facility.